THE town centre Christmas lights will be turned on this week with the return of the Christmas parade, after a two-year absence due to weather and Covid.
On Thursday, Islanders can join the parade from 4.30pm, starting at the Millennium Town Park, or can wait for Santa at the Christmas Village at the Weighbridge, where there will be food, drink, live music and stalls. The lights will be switched on at 8pm.
Town centre and events manager Connor Burgher said: “The Christmas Lights Switch On marks the official start of the festive period in the town centre. We are delighted that the event is back after a hiatus due to Covid and adverse weather.”
An ice-skating rink will be set up at the Weighbridge, funded by the Jersey Development Company, which will be open daily from Friday until the end of February half term (18 February), except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
JDC chief executive Lee Henry said: “The ice rink at Fort Regent was a popular and much-loved community attraction during previous festive seasons. However, the Island has been without this amenity for the past three years and we wanted to bring it back.”
And the Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa will host its first Christmas market in the Grand Suite on 6 December.
There will also be festive food and mulled wine made by the hotel’s chef, Nic Valmagna, with funds going towards the hotel’s charity of choice, Brighter Futures.
Hotel general manager Tim O’Sullivan said: “We’re delighted to be hosting this special Christmas market and spreading some seasonal cheer with the help of our specially selected exhibitors. We promise there’ll be plenty of present ideas here, even for the trickiest person to buy for.”
Genuine Jersey Christmas Markets will be held over three weekends in the Royal Square from 23 November and 10 December.
